Will power sharing agreements solve Africa’s political crises?

Dec 29, 2010

While watching TV recently, I saw a headline that Ivory Coast was being advised to consider a power sharing agreement in order to solve its current post-election crisis. The incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo, has refused to relinquish power after being defeated by his opponent, Alassane Ouatara, i

While watching TV recently, I saw a headline that Ivory Coast was being advised to consider a power sharing agreement in order to solve its current post-election crisis. The incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo, has refused to relinquish power after being defeated by his opponent, Alassane Ouatara, in the country’s recent second general election.

I could not help but wonder: this has been the case in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Sudan and now Ivory Coast. Is this the future we have to look forward to in African politics? Has this become the go-to solution when dealing with power hungry politicians? How much political immaturity can this continent take before it all comes crashing down on us?

Politicians are forgetting the meaning of the term democracy, which is even taught in schools in Uganda right from primary level.

Former US president Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) defined democracy as a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Looking at the way elections in Africa are conducted, who is thinking about the main component of the democracy — the people?

At first glance, power sharing looks like a reasonable approach to solving crises, especially in African politics. These agreements usually involve top politicians and military leaders, who negotiate, sign, and/or benefit from the agreement. What is usually and plainly absent from these negotiations is the participation by those who should benefit in the first place — the citizens. They are the ones who are directly affected when the power sharing agreements are successful or when they fail.

In the case of Ivory Coast, so far, African countries, the US and the European Union have recognised Ouattara as president-elect, and the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union have suspended Ivory Coast. With Laurent Ggagbo still in control of the media, Ivory Coast has come from being known as a country affected by civil war to one with two presidents, two prime ministers, two lists of cabinet ministers, two armies and a very anxious population.

When interviewed by Reuters recently, Morgan Tsvangirai, whose party was forced into a Zimbabwean Unity government with President Robert Mugabe after a disputed 2008 poll, said a power-sharing coalition would not serve the people of Ivory Coast. To Ivorians and other politicians who are thinking of clinging onto power, I say, a word to the wise is enough. The setting up of a power sharing agreement in Ivory Coast, according to Tsvangirai, is a very wrong precedent, especially for Africa’s democratic development even if it applies in his own country.

While the case for Kenya is quite different from that of the Ivorians, it also exposed the greedy tendencies of today’s politicians. It also brought out very sensitive weaknesses in governments, with regards to ethnic tolerance.

In Uganda, the concept of power sharing for now will continue to be a distant phenomenon. When you think about Uganda, who would be included or excluded from the agreement, considering how many political parties and presidential candidates we have. The failure of Uganda’s opposition political parties to re-invent themselves under the Inter-party cooperation ensured that this phenomenon be looked at as impractical in our country.

There are so many lessons that Ugandans cannot ignore. As we go into next year’s elections, it is fundamental that presidential aspirants and other politicians remember why they are taking part in a democracy and vying for political positions in the first place — the people. Ugandans should also exercise their rights and vote wisely, and repel any form of coercion.
The writer is a media and public relations practitioner

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